From Ecosystems to Ecosystem services. A spatial methodology applied to a case study in Sardinia.

Matilde Schirru;Simona Canu;Laura Santona;Sabrina Lai;Andrea Motroni

2019-01-01

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Abstract

Ecosystem services (ES) evaluation is the most recommended approach to assess and monitor environmental health and quality of human life. A key role to ensure provision of ecosystem benefits is played by protected areas and nature conservation projects worldwide. Natural capital accounting includes ES evaluation in sustainable land management and planning, setting the challenge to monitor ES over time and to update governance tools considering ES flows. The MAES initiative by the European Environmental Agency suggests ecosystems as the proper land units to evaluate, map and monitor related ES. Ecological Land Classification methodology was applied to obtain Asinara island (Sardinia, Italy) Ecosystem Map within the activities of GIREPAM project (INTERREG Program 2014-2020), aimed at integrating management policies in marine protected areas and parks governance. An ES inventory was also implemented, among others, through expert opinion survey, and carbon sequestration potential was estimated and mapped. Preliminary results of potential ES all over Asinara island territory and carbon sequestration mapping are presented, representing important tools for Asinara National Park future management planning and governance.